Canon PIXMA MP 810 > Reviews > MP810- a winner in my eyes

Author's product rating:   

Picture quality	Excellent
Printing speed	Fast
Colour sensitivity	Excellent
Reliability	Excellent
Value For Money	Good

Advantages:	Superb quality fast printing & scanning, good software, easy to use .
Disadvantages:	A little bulky, no integrated fax

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

After spending some time researching the latest photo-quality multi-functions, I decided on this model as it offered the best compromise on scan results and print speeds. Although I would have preferred a wireless-enabled machine, I was able to get around this by connecting to my router's printer server. The overall print quality is very good, and the excellent scan results combined with relatively fast printing make this a winner in my eyes.
At first glance the MP810 seems to be quite bulky, but there is a lot of functionality and therefore it might compromise features like the LCD screen if the dimensions were squeezed any more. At approximately 19in (47cm)x 16.5 in (42cm)x 9 in (23cm)make sure you have the space, and as it weighs in at around 12kg you won't want to be moving it too frequently. However, despite feeling a little flimsy to the touch, it is actually quite solidly constructed. The instructions are reasonably easy to follow, and setup shouldn't take more than an hour, including the software which comes bundled.
The first thing you notice when opening up is the scrolling wheel with which you select from the menu. This system works very well and it soon becomes second nature to select the features you need. The LCD screen is also clear and easy to read.
The flatbed scanner is A4 sized, and behind the platen glass protector there are both a negative strip holder and a slide holder. The scanner lid can also detach if needed. Other features include memory card slots, which means you can read directly without the need of a computer, an IrDA port, and a PictBridge port.
Having owned this machine for three months I have been hugely impressed by its functionality, speed, and ease of use. Replacement ink costs are not as high as in many cases, and results of scanning and printing are excellent, as near to professional standards as most users will require. Although for some, the lack of a USB-reader and the fact that it does not have a built-in fax may be important, overall this is a first class multi-function.